Kids Weaving Workshop

Recently I took my two young sons to the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok to see the exhibition 'Weaving Paradise: Southeast Asian Textiles and their Creators'. As part of the education program accompanying the exhibition, the boys participated in a kids weaving workshop, where they learned to weave on a loom and gained a greater appreciation of the incredible amount of time and skill needed to produce the beautiful hand-woven textiles that we see all the time in SE Asia but tend to take for granted.

It is great to see the private sector in Thailand offering free art events like this and as someone who works in art education, I couldn't believe the huge amount of time and effort the girls at JT spent preparing looms and materials for the workshop. Yay Jim Thompson!

Here's a picture of Jonah-Boombie with his beautiful weaving ..

At last !

Picked up this handy little breath spray in Bangkok a few weeks ago.

Art/craft debate

On the footpath outside Chatuchak market; whichever way you swing on the art/craft debate, these are great.

Cabbages and Condoms

When in Bangkok recently I had a meal at Cabbages and Condoms, a restaurant in the grounds of the Population and Community Development Association which was set up Thai politician and social activist Mechai Viravaidya, commonly known as 'Condom Man'. The restaurant decor leans heavily towards the use of condoms and contraception pill packs out of which light shades and wall decorations are made. I particularly loved the Mona Lisa with her cheeky smile and Durex, and this fabulous safe-sex haute couture.

Worth a visit if you are ever in Bangkok. Sukhumvit Soi 12.

Heading to the Big Mango

This weekend I am crawling out of my cocoon in quiet Mae Rim, outside Chiang Mai and heading off to Bangkok to check out some exhibitions with a group of 12 students that I teach.

Bangkok is the 22nd most populous city in the world. I remember the first time I visited Bangkok in 1992, it was just after the Black May coup d'etat and between the heavy military presence outside my hotel near the Democracy Monument, the humidity of June and the dense traffic, I wondered how people managed to survive and stay sane. My short trip to Asia, turned into an extended working holiday in Bangkok and some 3 years later I finally left Bangkok - I had survived but was decidedly less sane. I moved back to Bangkok in 2000 for 2 years and now love to visit, but think my days of gridlock traffic jams are over!

Anyway, I am looking forward to a weekend with lots of art, great food, some new inspiration and a bit of shopping. I am not sure whether the thought of going away with a group of 17 year old art students for a weekend makes me feel younger than I am or a lot older. In any case, its bound to be an interesting weekend.